Iranian interior minister meets Pakistan’s prime minister as Islamabad steps up mediation between Tehran and Washington

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday, according to Iranian news agencies, as part of a visit featuring a series of meetings with senior Pakistani officials.

Momeni began his official program with a meeting with Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, marking his first working session since arriving in Islamabad. He is also scheduled to meet Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi in the coming hours.

The visit comes as Pakistan intensifies its diplomatic efforts to bring Iran and the United States back to the negotiating table in a bid to salvage the collapsed interim agreement. This follows ten consecutive days of attacks between the two sides and growing disputes over the Strait of Hormuz and conditions for a ceasefire.

Authorities have not disclosed any details about the closed-door talks held in Islamabad, and it remains unclear what new arrangements might be reached to halt the fighting, or whether the efforts are aimed at reviving the previous agreement with modifications.

Pakistan’s political leadership, along with Asim Munir, who heads the army and defense forces, previously played a key role in brokering the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran in June. Islamabad is now continuing its efforts to persuade both parties to resume negotiations and address outstanding issues in the agreement.